Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took my children to Spain last summer for 2 weeks and the whole trip cost less than a Bethany rental, flight included.

This is not believable.

Well, I guess if you rent a massive house in Bethany and a tiny place in the middle of nowhere in Spain. And I agree that Spain is cheaper overall, but flights would basically make the costs break even.

There’s no need to exaggerate to prove your point. It just makes you look ridiculous.

That probably isn't far off.

I just looked and the average weekly rental for a 3 bedroom Bethany house is 4300 per week. Flights to Spain next summer are about $750. Food is far cheaper as are accommodations (2 bedroom in central Madrid during the summer is 1500-2500 for 2 weeks). I bet it would be cheaper to go to Spain for 2 weeks.

Where are you seeing $750? I just checked and iAd to mad for 6/25-7/5, the cheapest is $807 but requires an 18 hour flight in exonomy! Reasonable flight times are $1051 for economy. So I think if you are talking about a family of 4, you need at least 2 weeks vacation to make Europe more affordable plus need to be willing to fly economy red eye.

Also, I’m no longer psyched about renting apartments in anticipation in any place since I saw a new thing about the number of people who have secret cameras in those places and are uploading videos to the dark web. Particularly with my teen girls…..I’m really creeped out by the idea that someone could be filming them. We’ve also found that the mattresses in rental apartments are so cheap no one gets a decent nights sleep. I’ll compromise on a lot when traveling but everyone is just so cranky after sleeping on bad mattresses plus my husbands back will actually go out — so that is a priority for me.
Obviously those are preferences for us but I feel like all the people who are saying Europe is so much cheaper are comparing apples and oranges, or ignoring some significant compromises you have to make in order for Europe to be cheaper.

I agree food, activities, train tickets are all way cheaper in Europe. Hotel prices vary widely depending on where you are. Like London is pretty comparable to DC prices, and I think Madrid was maybe more, at least in summer. Small towns tend to be cheaper but that’s true here too. I guess the difference is that small town Spain or Italy is more interesting than a random small town in most of America.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took my children to Spain last summer for 2 weeks and the whole trip cost less than a Bethany rental, flight included.

This is not believable.

Well, I guess if you rent a massive house in Bethany and a tiny place in the middle of nowhere in Spain. And I agree that Spain is cheaper overall, but flights would basically make the costs break even.

There’s no need to exaggerate to prove your point. It just makes you look ridiculous.

That probably isn't far off.

I just looked and the average weekly rental for a 3 bedroom Bethany house is 4300 per week. Flights to Spain next summer are about $750. Food is far cheaper as are accommodations (2 bedroom in central Madrid during the summer is 1500-2500 for 2 weeks). I bet it would be cheaper to go to Spain for 2 weeks.

Just do the math for your family and find out, it's pretty simple math. The problem with your example is are you going to want to stay in Madrid for two weeks in the middle of the summer? The beach resorts tend to cost more (although you can find cheaper Airbnbs). And don't forget transit/rental car costs.

It was just an example to show that it may be something to think about. I am not a travel agent and wasn't coming up with a full itinerary. It is easy, though, to through in additional details just to show that somehow you're smarter. Get a life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not pp. But those who don't think it is believable obviously don't know how to budget travel. Sure, if you refuse to have any flexibility, that will be true. But I have done many trips to Europe for less than $3k for my small family. It just takes some work. I did one trip to Japan for 3 people over cherry blossom season for only $2500; found a great flight, biggest other expense was the train pass. I have saved tons of money by going to Thailand for 3 weeks. Flights were about $2k total (fly on Thanksgiving or Christmas day), but rooms were only about $40 for amazing local places. Definitely came back to more in my bank account than had I stayed home.

The reason people don't have flexibility is the school schedule. If you are flying over christmas day, okay, how are you staying there for 3 weeks?

Thank you! I am side-eyeing the Japan for 3 for $2,500. Is one under the age of 2? How many days?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Your post is ridiculous. "Europe" is closer to the East coast than Hawaii and Alaska. Comparing Jamaica to Hawaii and calling them equal?

DP I'm not reading PP saying they are "equal"

The Caribbean offers many of the same things people look for in visiting Hawaii. They are not equal; they have comparable features.

I've lived in Jamaica and been on a couple of Hawaii trips--getting to stay on all the major islands. If all you want to do is sit on a beach, sure, head to a Jamaica resort. Otherwise, these places are really not at all comparable.

Yeah. They are comparable if all you want to do is sit on a beach and be at a resort. This isn't uncommon for beach vacationers (while I personally prefer inner-island Jamaica ). My feeling was PP was comparing to the Caribbean, mentioning but not limited to the specific islands mentioned.

If you are going to Hawaii to beach/snorkel/hike/surf, you can find Caribbean alternatives.

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on what you are trying to do. I do think America’s more expensive vacation areas are more expensive than out of the country.

What does this even mean. "America" vs. "Out of the Country". lol . This whole thread is killing me.

Anonymous wrote:Not pp. But those who don't think it is believable obviously don't know how to budget travel. Sure, if you refuse to have any flexibility, that will be true. But I have done many trips to Europe for less than $3k for my small family. It just takes some work. I did one trip to Japan for 3 people over cherry blossom season for only $2500; found a great flight, biggest other expense was the train pass. I have saved tons of money by going to Thailand for 3 weeks. Flights were about $2k total (fly on Thanksgiving or Christmas day), but rooms were only about $40 for amazing local places. Definitely came back to more in my bank account than had I stayed home.

The reason people don't have flexibility is the school schedule. If you are flying over christmas day, okay, how are you staying there for 3 weeks?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took my children to Spain last summer for 2 weeks and the whole trip cost less than a Bethany rental, flight included.

This is not believable.

Well, I guess if you rent a massive house in Bethany and a tiny place in the middle of nowhere in Spain. And I agree that Spain is cheaper overall, but flights would basically make the costs break even.

There’s no need to exaggerate to prove your point. It just makes you look ridiculous.

That probably isn't far off.

I just looked and the average weekly rental for a 3 bedroom Bethany house is 4300 per week. Flights to Spain next summer are about $750. Food is far cheaper as are accommodations (2 bedroom in central Madrid during the summer is 1500-2500 for 2 weeks). I bet it would be cheaper to go to Spain for 2 weeks.

Just do the math for your family and find out, it's pretty simple math. The problem with your example is are you going to want to stay in Madrid for two weeks in the middle of the summer? The beach resorts tend to cost more (although you can find cheaper Airbnbs). And don't forget transit/rental car costs.

Anonymous wrote:Not pp. But those who don't think it is believable obviously don't know how to budget travel. Sure, if you refuse to have any flexibility, that will be true. But I have done many trips to Europe for less than $3k for my small family. It just takes some work. I did one trip to Japan for 3 people over cherry blossom season for only $2500; found a great flight, biggest other expense was the train pass. I have saved tons of money by going to Thailand for 3 weeks. Flights were about $2k total (fly on Thanksgiving or Christmas day), but rooms were only about $40 for amazing local places. Definitely came back to more in my bank account than had I stayed home.

You made money on your vacation?

Anonymous wrote:

Your post is ridiculous. "Europe" is closer to the East coast than Hawaii and Alaska. Comparing Jamaica to Hawaii and calling them equal?

DP I'm not reading PP saying they are "equal"

The Caribbean offers many of the same things people look for in visiting Hawaii. They are not equal; they have comparable features.

I've lived in Jamaica and been on a couple of Hawaii trips--getting to stay on all the major islands. If all you want to do is sit on a beach, sure, head to a Jamaica resort. Otherwise, these places are really not at all comparable.

Not pp. But those who don't think it is believable obviously don't know how to budget travel. Sure, if you refuse to have any flexibility, that will be true. But I have done many trips to Europe for less than $3k for my small family. It just takes some work. I did one trip to Japan for 3 people over cherry blossom season for only $2500; found a great flight, biggest other expense was the train pass. I have saved tons of money by going to Thailand for 3 weeks. Flights were about $2k total (fly on Thanksgiving or Christmas day), but rooms were only about $40 for amazing local places. Definitely came back to more in my bank account than had I stayed home.

It really depends on what you are trying to do. I do think America’s more expensive vacation areas are more expensive than out of the country.

Anonymous wrote: I just looked and the average weekly rental for a 3 bedroom Bethany house is 4300 per week.

This is similar to what is reported on the Delaware beach thread.

Your post is ridiculous. "Europe" is closer to the East coast than Hawaii and Alaska. Comparing Jamaica to Hawaii and calling them equal?

DP I'm not reading PP saying they are "equal"

The Caribbean offers many of the same things people look for in visiting Hawaii. They are not equal; they have comparable features.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took my children to Spain last summer for 2 weeks and the whole trip cost less than a Bethany rental, flight included.

This is not believable.

Well, I guess if you rent a massive house in Bethany and a tiny place in the middle of nowhere in Spain. And I agree that Spain is cheaper overall, but flights would basically make the costs break even.

There’s no need to exaggerate to prove your point. It just makes you look ridiculous.

+1.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took my children to Spain last summer for 2 weeks and the whole trip cost less than a Bethany rental, flight included.

This is not believable.

Well, I guess if you rent a massive house in Bethany and a tiny place in the middle of nowhere in Spain. And I agree that Spain is cheaper overall, but flights would basically make the costs break even.

There’s no need to exaggerate to prove your point. It just makes you look ridiculous.

That probably isn't far off.

I just looked and the average weekly rental for a 3 bedroom Bethany house is 4300 per week. Flights to Spain next summer are about $750. Food is far cheaper as are accommodations (2 bedroom in central Madrid during the summer is 1500-2500 for 2 weeks). I bet it would be cheaper to go to Spain for 2 weeks.